Paretroplus nourissati

Paretroplus nourissati - (Allgayer 1998)

Lamena / Lamena (Red One)

Mangarahara river, near Mandritsara

Par-ETRO-plus noore-ah-SAH-tee

Named after Jean-Claude Nourissat

7" (17.8cm)

Descriptions de Lamena nourissati sp. n. genre et espèce nouveaux endémiques de Madagascar (Teleostei: Etroplina)

in: Revue Francaise des Cichlidophiles; (No.179) May 1998: pp 7-17

Lamena nourissati - original description, not valid

Amboaboa (Ambomboa) river

- 2006 by A.R. Saunders and T. Ravelomana.

- 1993 by P.V. Loiselle, R. Morris, B. Vesta and local villagers.

- 1994, 1996 by J.S. Sparks and K.J. Riseng

Jabahiny river

- 2006 by A.R. Saunders and T. Ravelomana.

Also known from:

Sofia river at 15° 26’ 05" S / 48° 42’ 14" E

According to villagers around Mandritsara Paretroplus nourissati is still present, but its numbers have declined over the past two decades.

Villagers at Ponce Sofia, a village on the west bank of the Sofia river at the RN-32 crossing, state that Lamena were present at the site in the late 1980's, but with the introduction of Channa maculata and various other exotic fishes, native fish are all but absent from this area of the Sofia river.

Further upstream on the Sofia river fishers stated that Lamena were still present and in higher numbers than Paretroplus kieneri. Given the fact the author and his companions were unable to secure one specimen of P. kieneri in six days of fishing the Sofia and associated tribuarties this statment suggests that both species are in rapid decline.

The presence of Lamena in the Jabahiny river gives hope that even with numerous exotic competitors/predators this species can still find refuge.

Riverine habitats of moderate to swift flow.

Areas with bedrock substrate, or at least large instream boulder and cobble, between which this species had hide.

pH: 7.8-8.15

Temperature: 76.5-85.0 °F

Conductivity: 160-280 µS

Sauvagella robusta

Paretroplus kieneri

Rheocles derhami

Channa maculata

North American populations stem from a collection in 1993

A very aggressive cichlid, even in large aquaria.

Recommend 75 - 110 gallon, more for breeding

In captivity

Will accept flake, bloodworms, chopped earthworms, tubifex/blackworms, and some pelleted food.

Ok, I'll admit I've never had any luck spawning the Lamena.

An excellent article can be found in "Cichlid News magazine" January-April 1995; by P. De Rham. An online version of this article, and many more on Malagasy cichlids, can be found at the Cichlid Room Companion